The United States repeats its subversive rhetoric against Syria, admitting, however, that Russian opposition has prevented it from realizing its ambition of bringing down the Syrian government.

“…we will work with like-minded states to support the Syrian opposition to hasten the fall of Syrian leadership…," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok in Russia on Sunday.

She said she had argued in favor of upping pressure on Assad in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, but admitted, "We haven't seen eye to eye with Russia on Syria. That may continue….”

The US has imposed asset freezes against more than 100 members of the Syrian government and banned American firms from doing business with them.

Washington also slapped sanctions against the Syrian state oil firm last month.

Russia and China oppose the Western drive to oust the Syrian president.

On Thursday, Putin called on Western governments to “reassess” their position on Syria, criticizing them for relying on terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda to overthrow the Syrian government.

Many civilians, including large numbers of Syrian Arab Army security forces, and law enforcement forces have been killed in the unrest that began in Syria in March 2011.